TheCO: Hallowed Hunt is the third book set in the world of the "Five God’s" universe; is this directly related to the other two books?
LMB: Not directly. It takes place in a different country in a different century with a different cast of characters—except for the five gods. Science fiction and fantasy are the only genres in which a series can be defined by the universe in which it is set, which, when you think about it, gives a vast lot of creative elbow-room, potentially. For the Chalion series, I want to take advantage of that. The Weald also has some new magic to add to the mix, based on the old forest tribes’ totem animals.
Each of the Chalion books can be read as a stand-alone, although they do build on each other in various oblique ways.
TheCO: Was this universe something you had contemplated for a long time or something that came into being as you wrote “Curse of Chalion”?
LMB: This universe came into being for the first book. I had acquired a lot of fascinating historical background on medieval Spain, a wonderfully lurid but under-utilized place and period, but I knew I didn’t want to do an historical fantasy, which would be too constrained for the religious issues I also wanted to explore. Worldbuilding is not something I do all in advance; my settings grow in depth and complexity along with my stories, generally. So the world doesn’t "set up" from its sea of potential till the story actually passes through it. Once I had the first book, I had a frame or, more accurately, jumping off points on all the edges of its map for yet more development, something I took advantage of especially for this third book.
In the case of The Hallowed Hunt, elements from more northern European history provided the seed crystals. I wanted to access some of that fascinating, dark, complex pre-Christian “great northern thing” that so entranced Tolkien, among others. Research reading included the Finnish epic Kalevala, the German classic The Nibelungenlied (read in 12 hours while stuck at LAX due to a delayed flight to New Zealand), two biographies of Charlemagne, and a great deal of material on the dark ages Christian conversion of those parts. And, my first inspiration, a slim little academic volume with the utterly irresistible title of Mad Princes of Renaissance Germany, which I stumbled over in a friend’s library. I also went (twice) to a delightful traveling exhibit on the history of the Vikings in the North Atlantic that stopped at the science museum in St. Paul. Prince Jokol owes something to that.
Article comments
1 - DrPat
I had passed up Hallowed Hunt because I was so disappointed not to see a new Vorkosigan novel. The peek into the creation process makes me realize that LMB fantasy is all we're likely to get for years.
[sigh]
Thanks for this, theco. I think.
2 - Robert A. Mitchell
If you haven't read Bujold before you don't know what a treat you have in store for yourself, if you have you know how long it seems between books. One of the few authors I know of that never disappoints me. Makes me think, laugh, and buy new books because I can't wait for it to hit the used book store shelves.
3 - Dale Josephs
I've always enjoyed reading anything Bujold has published; and this interview makes her even more fascinating: getting this sort of insiders' view of the creative processes are what really prick my interest.
4 - M. Haller Yamada
Wonderful interview! Can't wait to get Hallowed Hunt, and the next New Thing. (-: The otter analogy is very entertaining.
5 - TheCO
Pat you said:I had passed up Hallowed Hunt because I was so disappointed not to see a new Vorkosigan novel. The peek into the creation process makes me realize that LMB fantasy is all we're likely to get for years.
[sigh]
Thanks for this, theco. I think.
Me personally while the fantasy is different i do find the quality holds up quite well. Curse of Chalion has echo's of Mirror Dance, and Paladin reminds me equally of Barrayar and Memory. Hallowed Hunt is genuinely unique, but of no less quality than the 'average' Bujold.
6 - DrPat
Oh, I bought Chalion's Curse, and read it, and found it enjoyable. Palladin and Hunt will probably also find their way to my shelves (in paperback), now that I know there is no further Miles madness in the works...
7 - theco
Ah, i did see Paladin in pb the last time i was in a store, the cover actually shrank down nicely. Enjoy.
8 - V
If you're the least bit hesitant, go read the sample chapters. I can guarantee that you'll want to buy the book immediately.
9 - theco
Oh, what V said.
Hell, you can always talk your library into a copy and check it out. Then buy your own copy if (read as: when) you decide you adore it.
10 - TheCO
Dale,
There are links to other interviews with Lois on her site, and she's doing a couple more cons this year so you might actually be able to meet her.
11 - Temple Stark
Blogcritics' editors liked this one. It's a pick of the week. Congrats. Put the news up proudly on your site.
Here's a link to the rest of this week's picks
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13 - sid
I'm sorry I am just not a big fan of LB's fantasy stuff...I mean come on, why a sci fi author of her caliber should decide to write about a bunch of barbarians with swords and magic (wtf??!!) is beyond me.
I'm waiting for some sci fi before I'll look at her again.